Maryland’s part of the Appalachian Path is the right introduction for backpackers contemplating a thru-hike
THRU-HIKING IS A COLLECTION of small victories: getting up the day’s ascent, discovering the water supply earlier than darkish, having fun with the corporate of shelter-mates. And people capable of stack sufficient of these victories, maybe six months’ value, sprinkled in with aspect quests, a handful of zero days, and a hiker competition or two, may find yourself strolling all the 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Path.
“The gorgeous factor about mountaineering is that life strikes on the similar tempo whether or not you’re on the market for an hour in your native park or deep within the backcountry for days on finish,” says Katie “Oats” Houston, group supervisor for Sawyer Merchandise and a contributing author to The Trek. “For those who’re a assured weekend warrior, you’ve probably obtained the talents to execute a thru-hike. For most folk, logistics is the limiting issue: cash, time, or obligations again residence. Part mountaineering is an effective way to extend your confidence, consolation, and probabilities of success.”
As a consequence of present tasks, mountaineering all the A.T. is certainly nonetheless a dream on the distant horizon for me. However earlier this 12 months, I made a decision to get a correct style of the path by mountaineering all the part of the well-known footpath that runs by means of Maryland. I did the affordable 41-mile jaunt—proper across the path’s midpoint—with my outdated man to welcome his retirement, a passage to the subsequent part in life. Right here’s a step-by-step information to an attainable part hike that provides an ideal introduction to the A.T.
Pen Mar Park (Southbound Beginning Level)
A.T. Mile Marker 1067.4/1285 toes
We had been dropped on the PA/MD border on Pen Mar Street in early spring and pointed south in direction of Harper’s Ferry, W.Va. We had photo voltaic lights and down jackets hanging off our packs, method an excessive amount of beef jerky, and a free grip on what 1,000 toes of elevation acquire in a single mile entails.
We deliberate for 5 nights to cowl simply over 40 miles. Loads of people may knock out 15-20 miles a day at a gradual tempo. One hiker, path identify The Optimist, bopped into camp as we had been placing our sleeping luggage down for the night time and shared that he was on a 32-mile/day tempo. However he didn’t scoff at our trustworthy 8-mile common; he congratulated us on our journey as he nudged a half-eaten deli sandwich onto a campfire rock.
The voyage from Pen Mar to Raven Rock presents a condensed preview of what lies forward. It eases in with a mile or so of wooded flatland, moseys by means of an eerily scenic boulder subject, and ascends roughly 600 toes of incline over the course of a half mile. Take your time; the rocks aren’t going anyplace. Set a layer for the remainder of your journey by lulling your tempo to the boulders reasonably than forcing your method round them. Your breaths will get deep at instances, however keep in mind that’s a part of the enjoyable, even for those who don’t see it that method till you’re again residence.
Raven Rock Shelter
A.T. Mile Marker 1061.7/1066 toes
Professional tip: Positive, the secret is shedding weight, however for those who’ve obtained any person who doesn’t thoughts briefly being a mule, carry a bag of frozen beef, which is able to thaw throughout your first day on the path and make for a well-deserved first-night camp meal.
The water supply at Raven Rock is a deceivingly prolonged stroll from camp. You’ll be tempted to calm down on arrival, arrange your tent, and take a load off. However I counsel you drop the load of your pack and gasoline up on water for the night time whilst you’re nonetheless warmed up. Even for those who’re tenting it, spend a while on the shelter round chow time to start gathering tales and suggestions from fellow hikers.
Pogo Campsite
A.T. Mile Marker 1052.6/1607 toes
No fuss, no shelter. Pogo is a group of fantastically dug-out tent websites and a privy. So if rain is to come back, take into account hoofing it to Pine Knob Shelter or slicing the day brief at Ensign Cowall Shelter.
Right here was our solely bear encounter. “BEAR IN CAMP” rang by means of Pogo’s inflexible tent websites. All people chimed in to not solely warn however deter. It got here simply after dawn, inflicting everybody to silently fear that they had been those who hadn’t utterly sealed their dinner trash from the night time earlier than. I’m undecided if it may odor one thing or simply occurred to be moseying by means of, nevertheless it didn’t pay us or our chants a lot consideration. I appreciated that about him. He was younger and certain used to being round hikers. He lived by the code, one foot in entrance of the opposite, and moved on inside minutes.
Dahlgren Backpack Campground
A.T. Mile Marker 1043.9/1057 toes
As you cross over the I-70 footbridge, take a second and watch the automobiles. I couldn’t assist however surprise the place they had been all going and why they needed to get there so rapidly. After two days of your velocity being one foot in entrance of the opposite, the operating might instantly really feel foolish. You’ll suppose again on all of the dashing you’ve performed or dread what dashing is to come back. Both method, might your tempo to the opposite aspect of the bridge be a reminder that irrespective of your velocity, you’ll find yourself the place you’re imagined to be.
“It takes a minimum of 4 nights for what I name my ‘thought knots’ to begin to untangle and for me to succeed in the psychological state I actually love once I’m on the market for weeks on finish,” Oats says.
Dahlgren is your clear website with a sizzling bathe. Name up Rasco NY Pizza in Boonsboro. They’re a little bit of path magic in themselves in that they’ll ship to the Outdated South Mountain Inn parking zone, which isn’t even 1 / 4 mile from the Dahlgren Campground.
The final word vulnerability required to ask a stranger sitting on a curb for a slice of their pizza can solely be discovered by operating solely on oats and goals. However that’s what the hike is all about—the kinship of shared self-induced struggling. The parking zone pizza is the path’s magic method of pulling every of us nearer to our inner end strains, decided by miles and markers.
Rocky Run Shelter
A.T. Mile Marker 1042.1/950 toes
A near-0 day! Sleep in, take your time, clear your mountaineering garments, and allow them to dry. A creek may be heard from the Rocky Run shelter. For those who observe the footpath all the way down to it, the “outdated shelter” is simply up the hill. Maryland notoriously has a number of the most well-kept shelters on the path. However the outdated shelter is value visiting, even when only for a pleasant quiet sit. Its stumpy stature overlooking the creek holds the essence of wooded huntsmen taking elbow-lifting pulls of XXX-labeled clear jugs.
Ed Garvey Shelter
A.T. Mile Marker 1033.0/1072 toes
That is your final night time. Replenish on any meals you’ve obtained left or supply it to a shelter-mate who’s trekking on. Construct a hearth and make some pals earlier than you go.
Harpers Ferry
A.T. Mile Marker 1026.6/280 toes
“One in all my favourite path sayings is HYOH – Hike Your Personal Hike. Folks interpret that in numerous methods, however for me, it means to honor your individual course of,” says Oats. “Really feel empowered to strive new gear, honor your physique, say ‘that’s not for me,’ and hike on when confronted by somebody making an attempt to cramp your fashion. Give your self your individual path identify, put smiles over miles, and keep in mind there are various methods to interact with the paths all of us love; thru-hiking is one in all many.”
The material of the scenic West Virginia border city of Harpers Ferry is sewn collectively by hiker camaraderie and fervour like a hearth patched 30L pack. Roughly 3,000 hikers try to thru-hike the Appalachian Path annually, with a couple of quarter finishing the feat. They may all move by means of Harpers Ferry, whether or not for a zero-day, a cheeky beer on the Rabbit Gap, or simply to bask within the mist coming off the Potomac River. For those who’ve obtained the time, get a celebratory room and stroll the stone streets.
All images by the creator
